Device for positioning large logs for quartering



' DEVICE FOR POSITIONING LARGE LOGS F'OR QUARTERING Filed April 2:5, 1962 R1 SAISON Oct. 27, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 DEVICE FOR POSITIONING LARGE LOGS FOR QUARTERING Filed April 23, 1962 R. SAISON Oct. 2-7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1964 R. SAISQN DEVICE FOR POSITIONINGv LARGE LOGS FOR QUARTERING Filed April 23. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .l! li hy WV///////////// Mnwme fim/M/A SA/so/v By JM-wp. M. ATTV.

Oct. 27, 1964 s lsou 3,154,119

DEVICE FOR POSITIONING LARGE LOGS FOR QUARTERING Filed April- 23, 1962 4 Sheets-Shget 4 x\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\&

JYJWMW United States Patent 60,865 3 Claims. or. 143-19 The present invention relates to a device for positioning timber logs, which is mainly intended for use in the case of logs of very large diameter. This device makes it possible to turn the log about its own axis, to lift it or lower it so as to bring a well defined plane of the said log into the sawing plane.

When the logs are of very large diameter, it is an advantage to be able to cut them up into four rightangled sectors by sawing them along two perpendicular planes passing through the heart of the log. This heart corresponds to the center of the successive rings of the wood and is usually distinct from the geometrical axis of the log.

The preliminary cutting of the log which is thus effected provides quartered logs which can be more easily handled and which can be sawn-up by machines of average dimensions. This operation is at present carried out by very rudimentary means, and consequently the time required to saw a log into four pieces is extremely long.

The device contemplated by the present invention has for its object to reduce this period of time to the strict minimum.

The device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that it comprises in combination a cradle formed by two cables suspended between pulleys and intended to receive the log in the horizontal position, a system by means of which the said cables can be made to run through the pulleys so as to cause the log to turn about its own axis, and supports of variable height adapted to come into contact with the bottom surface of the log and to lift the log above the cradle formed by the cables, so as to bring the log into the sawing plane.

Each cable of the cradle is preferably arranged in an endless contour and held between four pulleys, the length which is intended to receive the log forming a rounded portion between the two upper pulleys, while the displacement of the cable can be carried out by means of a jack.

The log supports can be constituted by a T-shaped frame adapted to slide in the direction of the vertical arm thereof, the head of the T which is fitted with retractable gripping dogs being disposed at right angles to the axis of the'log.

The above-mentioned handling device which is preferably located in a pit above which moves a log-carriage fitted with the sawing gear can be combined with a device which permits the automatic positioning of the log both vertically and angularly.

Further particular features of the invention will be brought out by the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of example without any limitation.

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation and in cross-section along the line II of FIG. 2, the right hand side of the figure showing the log-supports in the top positon.

FIG. 2 is the corresponding plan view with portions of the log broken away.

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation after a cross-section has been taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another view in elevation after a cross-section has been taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 1 showing a log-support in the bottom position and the same logsupport in the top position.

FIG. 5 is a partial diagram in elevation when looking at the log from the end, the said diagram showing the appliance for the automatic position-setting of the log.

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of the same appliance which is assumed to be independent.

FIG. 7 is a diagram relating to the angular positioning of the log.

In the form of embodiment which is described in FIGS. 1 to 4, the device for positioning logs of large size is set in a pit 1 to which access is gained by a stairway 2. On the platform 3 which borders the pit 1 are provided roller-tracks shown diagrammatically at 4 (FIG. 2) for a sawing device which is not illustrated in the figure and which can be constituted by any known means such as, for example, a band-saw or chain-saw. Since the cuting element is placed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pit and the carriage moves in a direction parallel to the said axis, the corresponding sawing plane XX is located above the pit 1 at a distance H from the ground.

The positioning device in accordance with the invention has for its object to bring a pre-determined plane of the log 5 to be sawn into coincidence with the plane XX as defined above.

In particular, this device makes it possible to bring into the plane X-X a plane which is defined geometrically in the log and which passes through the heart of the log.

In accordance with the present invention, the positioning device comprises two endless cables 6 disposed in two planes which are transverse with respect to the log 5, each of these cables being fitted over a set of four oppositely arranged pulleys consisting of two upper pulleys 7 and two lower pulleys 8 which are mounted on posts 9 placed opposite to each other and anchored in the bottom 11 of the pit 1.

The length of the cable 6 substantially exceeds the perimeter which is defined by the four pulleys 7 and 8. The slack length 12 thus formed is arranged between the two upper pulleys '7 and it receives the log, the weight of which ensures the tension of the other lengths. The log 5 is accordingly supported by a cradle constituted by the two lengths 12.

The system by means of which the cable 6 is displaced is also installed in the pit 1. This system comprises a jack 13 housed in a hollowed-out portion 14 of the pit 1.

The jack 13 is carried by a frame 15 which is arranged between the posts 9. The sliding rod 16 of the said jack terminates in a clamp 17 which grips the cable 6 between the pulleys 8. In the position of withdrawal of the jack 13, the clamp 17 is adapted to take up the position designated by the reference 17a and the distance k (as shown in FIG. 3) existing between the two positions is greater than one quarter of the maximum perimeter of the logs.

In combination with the system referred to above, the handling device comprises two supports 21 of adjustable height which are adapted to come into contact with the lower perimeter of the log. Each support 21 comprises a T-shaped frame, the vertical arm 22 of which is mounted inside a well 23 reached by means of a ladder 30. The arm 22 which is constituted by a U-shaped section is adapted to slide between guide-cheeks 24 which are supported by plates 25, the said plates 25 being anchored against the wall of the well 2.3. The top horizontal arm 26 of the support 21 comprises a wall 27 which serves as a bearing shoe for the log in the work position. Each arm 26 carries on one of its vertical I faces a dovetail section 28 which serves as a slideway for slide-rods 29 fitted with dogs 31.

An operating device is provided for each support 21 and another operating device is provided for the dogs 31. The first device comprises a vertical jack 32 (FIG. 1) which is housed inside the well 23 and which bears on a fixed sole-piece 34 while the moving rod 35 of the said jack is secured at 36 beneath the arm 26 of the T-shaped frame.

The spacing of the dogs 31 is adjusted by means of a jack 37, the body of which is coupled to one of the sliderods 29 and the rod 38 of which is secured to the second slide-rod.

The operation of the device as thus constituted is as follows: a log 5 is placed in the cradle formed by the cable-lengths 12. By actuating the jacks 13, the cables 6 are made to run through the pulleys, thereby causing the log to rotate about its geometrical axis and thus to roll over progressively as the cable carries out a longitudinal displacement. When the log has been brought into the desired angular position, the supports 21 are lifted by extension of the jacks 32 until the shoes 27 come into contact with the log. The jacks 37 are then retracted so that the dogs 31 are anchored in the body of the log which is thus firmly fixed in position.

The jacks 32 are then caused to carry out further extensions of either equal or different amplitudes according to the angle of slope at which it is desired to set the axis of the log. It is thus possible to bring the line of the heart of the log into the sawing plane X-X and to proceed with the longitudinal sawing of the log.

In order to split the log into four quarters, it is necessary after the first sawcut has been effected as previously indicated to join the two halves together by means of separate clamping dogs. When this has been effected, the supports 21 are moved downwards and the dogs 31 are drawn apart, thereby permitting the log to take up a further position of rest in the cradle. The jacks 13 are then actuated so that one quarter of a revolution is imparted to the log, which is then raised after having brought the dogs 31 back into engagement. The second sawcut is then effected.

In the form of embodiment considered, it has been assumed that the jacks were of the hydraulic type. It is understood that it would not constitute any departure from the scope of the invention to make use of electric jacks. It has also been assumed that the logs were brought over the pit by an overhead travelling crane or handling crane. The log could also be brought into position by pushing it along a longitudinal slideway which is cut away to form transverse slits to make room for the cable 6 and the supports 21. In this case, the cable 6 should be formed by two detachable lengths, to that it can be inserted in the slideway slits when placing the log in position. Alternatively, a jack having an adjustable travel could be inserted in the perimeter of the cable, the said jack being extended as the log is brought into position and thus having the same result. Finally, it is obvious that the running of the cables 6 could be effected by means other than the jacks 13 and in particular by mounting motor reduction-gear units on the pulleys 7.

In a preferred form of embodiment of the invention, the handling device referred-to above is employed in combination with a device for controlling the upward movement and angular rotation of the log about its own axis. This device, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, permits of the automatic sawing of the log in two sawcuts along two planes at right angles. The control device comprises two trolleys, such as the trolleys 41, disposed alongside the pit 1 which are designed to move along rails 42 by means of rollers 43. The rails 42, disposed along longitudinal edges of the pit 1, are parallel to one of the rolling tracks 4 of the sawing-carriage referred-to above.

The trolley 41 has a vertical frame 44 which is adapted to roll by means of rollers 45 on two rails 46 set at right angles with respect to the rails 42 and consequently at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pit 1.

The frame 44 is provided on the pit side with an articulated parallelogram 47 located in the plane of the said frame which comprises two long rods 48 pivotally mounted at 49 on the frame 44 and a set of link-rods 51 which correspond to the small side of the parallelogram and which are pivotally coupled at 50 and 52 to the two rods 48. The parallelogram 47 is fitted with balancing springs 53.

On the shaft 52 is mounted a guide-pin 54 parallel to the axis of the pit and a pivotal arm 55 fitted with a second guide-pin 56 which is parallel to the first guidepm.

The link-rods 51 are disposed vertically and the angular displacement of the arm 55 is limited by an abutment 57 in a horizontal position which is substantially parallel to the sawing plane.

The control device additionally comprises two endof-travel contacts 61, 62. The first contact 61 which is actuated by a cam 63 carried by one of the rods 48 effects by means of a relay 71 the stopping of the movement of extension of the jacks 32 which cause the logsupports 21 to move upwards.

The second contact 62 is actuated by a finger 64 of the arm 55. By means of a relay 72, the said second contact has the effect of stopping the movement of extension of the jacks 13 which produce the longitudinal displacement of the cables 6 and consequently the rotation of the log 5 about its own axis.

The operation takes place as follows:

When the log is located in the low position (I) with the heart at K (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7), the guidepin 54 is driven into each end face of the log and in a position which is well defined with respect to K (for example 100 mm. below and to the left), in such manner that the two parallelograrns 47 do not have to be displaced at the time of the sawing operation.

The guide-pin 56 is also driven in while due care is taken to bring the arm 55 against the abutment 57, thereby ensuring the horizontal setting of the said arm.

The movement of extension of the jacks 32 is then effected, thereby initiating the upward movement of the log from the position 5 (I) to the top position 5 (II). During this displacement, the rods 48 pivot in the direction 1 about the fulcrums 49. When the log has reached the position 5 (II) in which the guide-pin 54 is located at 10 cm. below the sawing plane X-X while the rods 48 are located in the angular position 48 (II), the cam 63 actuates the contact 61 which has the effect of energizing the relay 71 which in turn cuts off the oil supply to the jacks 32.

At this moment, the line of the heart of the log has come into the position K in the sawing plane XX.

The first sawcut can then be effected. The log is afterwards lowered in the cradle and removed from its clamps, whereupon the turning jack 13 is actuated. The cables 6 move the log 5 which turns about its own axis in the direction g about its geometrical center 0. During this movement of rotation, the heart K of the log describes a circular arc G and the rods 48 again rotate in the direction thereby thrusting back the trolley-frame 44 in the direction p as a result of the rolling movement of the rollers 45 along the rails 46.

When the log has effected a rotation from the position K to the position K so that the angle formed between K and K the guide-pin 54 is located at 54 (III) and the guide-pin 56 is located at 56 (III), while the arm 55 is folded back alongside the link-rods 51. At this moment, the contact 62 is actuated by the finger 64. The relay 72 is energized and the jack 13 is stopped. The log has accordingly rotated about its own axis through an angle of 90.

It is then sufficient to re-clamp the log and bring back the arm 55 to the horizontal position, then to proceed as above.

The positioning of the log for the sawing operation can thus be carried out in a semi-automatic and very simple manner.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been described and that these latter can be made subject to alternative forms of construction.

In particular, the trolley which supports the parallelogram could have move on rails located in the bottom of the pit or in the walls thereof. In this latter case, the entire weight of the trolley should be balanced.

What I claim is:

1. A device for positioning logs, especially logs of large diameter, arranged for rotating a log about its own axis and for bringing into the sawing plane a predetermined plane of said log passing through the heart thereof, said device comprising four vertical supporting members fitted within a pit adapted to accommodate said log, said supporting members being symmetrically distributed relatively to a vertical plane of said .pit containing said log axis, an upper and a lower pulley rotatably mounted on each of said supporting members, the set of four pulleys which are mounted on two symmetrical supporting members being located in a vertical plane perpendicular to said plane of symmetry, an endless cable fitted over said set of four pulleys, said cable having a slack length between two opposite upper pulleys for accommodating said log, a horizontal jack housed within said pit located in said vertical plane of said pulleys and connected to said endless cable, means to energize said jack for displacing said cable relatively to said set of four pulleys when said log is accommodated within the cradle formed by both cables, two T-shaped supports each comprising a vertical arm and a horizontal arm slidably mounted within said pit, and adapted for contact of said horizontal arm with said log when the log is borne by said cradle, energizing means comprising vertically fitted jacks to raise said T- shaped supports above said cradle, a pair of adjustable, spaced apart dogs mounted on each of said horizontal arms and adapted for engagement with said log, jacks disposed on said T-shaped supports and operatively connected to said dogs, and means to energize said last mentioned jacks for displacement of said dogs.

2. A device for positioning logs, especially logs of large diameter, arranged for rotating the log about its own axis and for bringing into the sawing plane a predetermined plane of said log passing through the heart thereof, said device comprising, in combination, a cradle including two cables suspended between pulleys and adapted to receive the log in the horizontal position, means to run said cables relatively to said pulleys, so as to cause the log to roll about its own axis, supports of adjustable height adapted to come into contact with the bottom surface of the log, and means to raise said log supports, thereby lifting said log above said cradle formed by said cables, so as to bring said predetermined planes into said sawing plane, said device further including means for the automatic height setting of said log heart into said sawing plane, said height setting means comprising a rolling track parallel to the axis of said log, two trolleys movable along said rolling track and adapted respectively to be located sub stantially in line with the log terminal faces, a displace able frame mounted on each of said trolleys, said frame being horizontally displaceable in a direction perpendicular to said rolling track, an articulated parallelogram substantially located in a vertical plane connected to said frame, said parallelogram having four summits and two vertical sides, two of said summits being pivoted on said frame and one of the two other summits carrying a guide pin adapted to be driven into said log terminal face at a predetermined position with respect to said log heart, and means controlled by the angular displacement of said parallelogram with respect to said frame for automatically stopping said raising means of said log supports when said log heart has reached said sawing plane.

3. A device for positioning logs, especially logs of large diameter, arranged for rotating the log about its own axis and for bringing into the sawing plane a predetermined plane of said log passing through the heart thereof, said device comprising, in combination, a cradle including two cables suspended between pulleys and adapted to receive the log in the horizontal position, means to run said cables relatively to said pulleys, so as to cause the log to roll about its own axis, supports of adjustable height adapted to come into contact with the bottom surface of the log, means to raise said log supports, thereby lifting said log above said cradle formed by said cables, so as to bring said predetermined plane into said sawing plane, said device further including means for the automatic height setting of said log heart into said sawing plane, said height setting means comprising a rolling track parallel to the axis of said log, two trolleys movable along said rolling track and respectively adapted to be located substantially in line with the log terminal faces, a frame mounted on each of said trolleys, said frame being horizontally displaceable in a direction perpendicular to said rolling track, an articulated parallelogram substantially located in a vertical plane connected to said frame, said parallelogram having four summits and two vertical sides, with two of said summits being pivoted on said frame and one of the two other summits carrying a guide-pin adapted to be driven into said log terminal face at a predetermined position with respect to said log heart, and means controlled by the angular displacement of said parallelogram for automatically stopping said raising means of said log supports when said log heart has reached said sawing plane; said device further including means for automatically controlling the rotation of said log through a predetermined angle about the geometrical axis thereof, said last mentioned means comprising an arm pivotably mounted on one of said parallelogram summits remote from said frame, a guide-pin fitted on said arm and adapted to be driven into said log terminal face, and means, controlled by the angular displacement of said arm with respect to said vertical parallelogram side when said log is rotated about its axis, for stopping said running means of said cables.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 951,937 Bryan Mar. 15, 1910 1,108,048 Willette Aug. 18, 1914 1,905,387 Kirkwood Apr. 25, 1933 2,441,925 Wege May 18, 1948 2,640,513 Watson et a1. June 2, 1953 2,702,057 Miller Feb. 15, 1955 2,870,803 Eppler Jan. 27, 1959 3,037,538 Graham June 5, 1962 3,062,249 Gray Nov. 6, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 597,788 Canada May 10, 1960 

1. A DEVICE FOR POSITIONING LOGS, ESPECIALLY LOGS OF LARGE DIAMETER, ARRANGED FOR ROTATING A LOG ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS AND FOR BRINGING INTO THE SAWING PLANE A PREDETERMINED PLANE OF SAID LOG PASSING THROUGH THE HEART THEREOF, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING FOUR VERTICAL SUPPORTING MEMBERS FITTED WITHIN A PIT ADAPTED TO ACCOMMODATE SAID LOG, SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS BEING SYMMETRICALLY DISTRIBUTED RELATIVELY TO A VERTICAL PLANE OF SAID PIT CONTAINING SAID LOG AXIS, AN UPPER AND A LOWER PULLEY ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS, THE SET OF FOUR PULLEYS WHICH ARE MOUNTED ON TWO SYMMETRICAL SUPPORTING MEMBERS BEING LOCATED IN A VERTICAL PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO SAID PLANE OF SYMMETRY, AN ENDLESS CABLE FITTED OVER SAID SET OF FOUR PULLEYS, SAID CABLE HAVING A SLACK LENGTH BETWEEN TWO OPPOSITE UPPER PULLEYS FOR ACCOMMODATING SAID SET OF FOUR PULLEYS, SAID CABLE HHAVING A SLACK LENGTH BETWEEN TWO OPPOSITE UPPER PULLEYS FOR ACCOMMODATING SAID LOG, A HORIZONTAL JACK HOUSED WITHIN SAID PIT LOCATED IN SAID VERTICAL PLANE OF SAID PULLEYS AND CONNECTED TO SAID ENDLESS CABLE, MEANS TO ENERGIZE SAID JACK FOR DISPLACING SAID CABLE RELATIVELY TO SAID SET OF FOUR PULLEYS WHEN SAID LOG IS ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE CRADLE FORMED BY BOTH CABLES, TWO T-SHAPED SUPPORTS EACH COMPRISING A VERTICAL ARM AND A HORIZONTAL ARM SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID PIT, AND ADAPTED FOR CONTACT OF SAID HORIZONTAL ARM WITH SAID LOG WHEN THE LOG IS BORNE BY SAID CRADLE, ENERGIZING MEANS COMPRISING VERTICALLY FITTED JACKS TO RAISE SAID TSHAPED SUPPORTS ABOVE SAID CRADLE, A PAIR OF ADJUSTABLE, SPACED APART DOGS MOUNTED ON EACH OF SAID HORIZONTAL ARMS AND ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LOG, JACKS DISPOSED ON SAID T-SHAPED SUPPORTS AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID DOGS, AND MEANS TO ENERGIZE SAID LAST MENTIONED JACKS FOR DISPLACEMENT OF SAID DOGS. 